A Memory Of My Stupid Mentor

It's been just a few months but it felt like ages since I stopped travelling with Angus my drunken teacher.

As a teacher he was good, when in break he would joke and tell me stories while in my training would be strict and give precise instructions, but his style of training is a bit of a pain.

I remember many nights of his training that I would be in a waterfalls or below some mountain then he would throw rocks at me and I must stay still no matter what and every now and then it would hit my head and the pressure from the waterfalls would almost drown me but Angus will just tell me to shrug it off.

Now I have a month to copy those training conditions so I might even have a chance at staying alive in my fight with Sir talks alot.

You know what would speed up this very serious training that I am seriously taking? Yep a fricking montage. If only I had one though, it would probably have the lyrics "Red is really awesome!!" while you scroll to me having more character development in half a chapter than my first two chapters but I can't sing damn it.

What I will do now instead is reminisce to all the time I spent with Angus as I feel that I skipped that chapter a while back because I hate, no despise Angus. But damn it I loved that dude, As a friend you malicious reader... That I love so much, please keep reading.

My first day with Angus was very tiring and only there did I realise what it actually took to live on the outside world, as merchant he always had to worry about his goods and sales but as an adventurer too he couldn't just stay in one place too long or just keep on frequenting major cities like the usual peddlers so he was always on the move.

Before I met Angus I had little knowledge of things like tariff or taxes and I definitely didn't know that when some goons stop you before entering a small town you should pay instead of beating them up because as much as bandits have a bad name they are still the only security these small towns have.

Everywhere we go Angus seemed to know someone and people thought of him highly, smug face, powerful magic, popularity, he should be a main character himself actually.

There was only one thing that I really took to heart which was his advice "If you want progress, you will never find it on comfort" which is why when I start to get used to the pressure of the falls he would warm up the water until I felt like a hardboiled egg or when I no longer shook from his stones he'd throw magic knives instead.

I mean it would have killed me had magic never existed but it didn't and a few months later who'd have known I'd be resisting actual knives.

Let me tell you about the time my magic came out. I've been travelling with Angus and we stopped at a village one night, Angus usually slept inside his cart but this time he went for an Inn and gave me some money and told me to sleep where the hell I want as long as I don't bother him.

I just pocketed the money and slept on the carriage though and later that night I was attacked, it had been a group of soldiers who were dressed as knights.

They had been knocking on every door saying they were collecting tax and they pulled Angus' cart not knowing I was there.

I came out and confronted the person seeming like he was the captain.

"What are you doing? Taxes aren't supposed to be this high! And give me back our cart!"

The captain looked at me with a smirk and pushed me aside using his brute force which me even using my magic to stay planted on the ground could not handle.

"Kill the child"

The captain said and soon after one soldier came to me with a sword and tried to cut me.

I barely managed to dodge it and I got scraped in the knee while running, what was I supposed to do? He had a sword and a group of soldiers, it would be suicide to fight on but I was confused, I thought soldiers serve the country not steal from them.

Now I know what your thinking, Red your supposed to be a hero go defeat those goons, you aren't even fighting the boss yet.

Let me tell you about something called Mook Chivalry which is a concept on most stories that say insignificant characters should remain weak.

Archers of the enemy should be blind idiots when hitting the main character, heroes will always win even when it's 10 against 1 and goons will always lose to a young protagonist like me.

Well guess what there is no such thing thing! On a lucky day some random insignificant character can kill a hero. The difference between a good and a bad marksman is accuracy not damage, even the worst marksman can still hit bullseye remember that.

Going back, I was being chased by this well-built knight and I was cornered, dead end dark alley style. As the knight got closer I could hear my heart as I was deafened by each beat until I could see the sword approaching me and it was as if time got slower.

They say that prey are strongest when they are cornered and my experience confirms that because in a last attempt at surviving I desperately tried to grab something, anything to defend myself until I felt a sword in my hand and to the knight's surprise I was armed and he could not stop as he rammed towards my sword, impaling himself in the process.

With this new accuired power I did what any good protagonist would do, run the hell away. I mean seriously without the author bending all forms of logic most protagonists wouldn't live towards the climax with their I will save everyone attitude.

As I ran and got closer to the exit I felt a hand grab my shirt from behind and it was Angus who looked as if he just got out of bed.

"You're breaking my heart kid, I never thought I raised a coward"

"The hell do you want me to do? There are 7 soldiers that are all stronger than me? I have no hope of winning!"

Angus laughed and dragged me to the direction of the soldiers I ran from earlier.

"Listen, you want to be stronger than most people? Then do what they won't even imagine of doing, the only one who can defeat the genius is the insane"

Goddamn it! These motivational speeches of yours is gonna get me killed one day! But I followed them nonetheless.

With sword inhand I ran towards the captain like a madman just sprinting without any regard for the rest of the enemies and as I tried to strike the captain dow he reacted with a stab of his own which pierced directly through my left shoulder but as Angus said, go crazy and so I did and unfazed by the giant hole in my body I continued to attack.

The captain obviously did not expect that some teenager would be crazy enough to not retreat and mend his injuries because I managed to get my attack through with my sword puncturing his heart and he died.

The rest of the soldiers were not happy with that and almost immediately damaged my right shoulder with some sort of magic spear that not just hurt like hell but also chained me to the ground.

I kept on resisting like some rabid hound attacking anyway I can, with my teeth, with my feet, and my dislocated arm but I made no progress whatsoever and the goons supposed to be allied with the captain where now ridiculing him for being defeated by me and they continued on toying with me, beating me up as much as they can before they kill me.

My sight was then darkening and I could feel my strength going away and the last thing I saw were flames and my smoker master laughing hysterically from above.

Now what is the lesson of the story? Don't trust a drunk? Don't fight corrupt officials? Probably but not this time.

I was an idiot, again I'm simply running away because I am too afraid of losing what little I have and well my pride won't give me a fighting chance against Sir Brags-alot.

Head held low I then entered the local duke's mansion and begged him for a trainer and a lodging place, naturally he ridiculed me and from far away I could hear the murmurs of guests and servants.

"You must be insane coming in my house and asking for my help you dirty pig!"

Duke Forheigh disgustingly shouted in my face but he wasn't going to let me just leave and he wanted to humiliate me first.

"Ok you scum. I want you to lick my shoe and say how much of a scum you are and maybe then I'll consider your request"

Both of us know there is no chance he will help me but I can't just do nothing as the day of my execution goes nearer and the least I could do is give the righteous knight a good fight so I went down to my knees and lowered my forehead and the Duke did not expect I would follow and he was startled and kicked me away.

Laying on the ground the murmurs and insults were deafening and I felt like shit! But what the hell can I do? I have no hope doing it alone and my friends might have been in greater danger just because of my mistakes... I really am scum.

"Do you regret saving me Red?" I hear a familiar voice beside me and as I opened my eyes trying desperately not to tear up I saw her.

Viollette, everything I've suffered for was for her but if I could trun back time I'd suffer this pain again.

"No" I said as I picked myself up forcing a smile.

The Duke who was dissapointed that he did not break my spirit then ordered his men to carry us away but as the soldiers approached us a surge of water came between them.

"I suggest you not treat my friends so poorly" With his dashing clothes and absolute confidence no one could mistake the man that just entered and with elegance he blew the soldiers away and helped me up.

"Sorry for the rough accommodation Red, shall we leave then?"

I nod and as we were about to leave the Duke then shouted.

"Alister Rouge Forheigh! I will not let this stand, the moment you leave that door you are no longer my son!"

Calmly Alister turned to him and looking him in the eye said.

"I don't give a damn"

And as we left the whole mantion was silent everyone's eyes on Alister who couldn't care less about his father nor his status, he just simply wanted to protect his friends.